REM GLEN HELEN MOTOCROSS: IT RAINED AT RED BUD, BUT OLD GUYS REIGNED AT REM

Randel Fout (78) was on the Husky TC125 that Pro Circuit built for Ivan Tedesco to race during the 125 All-Star series at the AMA Nationals. Ivan never race it, but MXA did. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Photos by Debbi Tamietti & Jon Ortner

Glen Helen Raceway in San Bernardino, California, and Red Bud Raceway in Buchanon, Michigan, had something in common this past weekend. But, it wasn’t the MXDN. It was was the weather, while rain dominated the conversation about Red Bud, at Glen Helen the fact that the sun never broke through the cloud cover was almost as earth shattering. If it rains in Michigan in October, it is no big deal. It rains there all the time, but clouds in SoCal aren’t all that common (and forget about rain).

There was another big difference between Red Bud and Glen Helen—at Glen Helen the riders welcomed the cloudy weather. Not only was it below 95 degrees for a change, but the clouds helped keep the dirt moist all day. At Red Bud the dirt was moist all day also, but moist down about two feet deeper.

Randel Fout (2) also raced the Yamaha YZ125 that Ryan Villopoto used to win the Washougal 125 All-Star two-stroke race in his other moto of the Over-60 Experts. Here, Randel chases Will Harper (7). Photo: Jon Ortner

50 ELITE CLASS
1. Ed Foedish…1-1
2. Luther French..2-2
3. Jon Ortner…3-3

It may look like the Blue Angels choreographed this jump, but Chuck Cook (827), Steve Watson (75) and John Diana (100) managed to fly in formation with no previous aerobatic experience.  Photo: Debbi Tamietti

50 EXPERT CLASS
1. Robert Reisinger…2-1
2. Ron Shuler…1-3
3. Mike Hibner…3-2

MXA’s Jody Weisel (38) used his surgically repaired eyeballs to go 4-4 in the Over-65 Intermediate class.  Photo: Jon Ortner

OVER-50 INTERMEDIATE CLAS
1. Lonnie Paschall…1-3
2. Jack Phinn…4-2
3. Bill Reimer…3-4

This steep uphill caught a lot of racers out in practice as the middle of the hill had deep sand on it. If you crashed here, you were on your own. It was safe to roll to the bottom on the left side of the track. Photo: Jon Ortner

OVER-50 NOVICE CLASS
1. Tim Smith…1-1
2. Chuck Cook…2-2
3. John Diana…3-3

Jack Phinn moved to the Over-50 Intermediate class three races ago and got to his first podium in his third try. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-60 EXPERT CLASS
1. Val Tamietti…1-1
2. Will Harper…2-2
3. Pete Vetrano…4-3

David Dabin took the 250 Intermediate win on his Twisted Development Yamaha YZ250F. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-60 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Tom Holmes…2-1
2. Steven Chandler..1-2
3. Kent Reed…4-3

Former AMA National Pro Tony Amaradio gets his KTM 450SXF down and dirty in this deep loam corner. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-65 INTERMEDIATE
1. Charlie Beck…1-1
2. Randy Lewis…2-2
3. Tony Parsons…3-3

This was a very challenging uphill hairpin. The fast line was to take the inside berm, but Kent Reed (491). Mic Rodgers (115) and John Caper (44) all missed the inside and spread out across the corner. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-40 EXPERT CLASS
1. Ralf Schmidt…1-1
2. Robert Reisinger…3-2
3. David Cincotta…2-3

This is the same corner as the above photo, but David Cincotta (861) didn’t try to finesse it. He went high and turned the throttle on his pink TM 250 wide open. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-40 INTERMEDIATE CLASS
1. Jason Goss…1-2
2. Lamont Dusseau…2-3
3. Joe Sutter…4-1

Bradley Denton checked out the depth of this rutted left-hander in the 450 Pro class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

OVER-40 NOVICE CLASS
1. Pete Vetrano…2-1
2. Lamont Dusseau…1-2
3. Gary Taylor…3-3

Former Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck went 1-1 in the Over-65 Intermediate class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

250 BEGINNER CLASS
1. Cody Vascak…1-1
2. Gavin Skala…2-2
3. Garrett Griggs…3-3 

The old guys at REM are no joke. Pete Vetrano (37) went 4-3 for third in the Over-60 Expert class and then came back one race later to beat the 20-year-younger Over-40 Novice class with a 1-1 score over second place Lamont Dusseau (217). Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Robert Reisinger (96) won the Over-50 Expert class with Mike Hibner (15) third and Pasha Afshar fourth. Ron Shuler got second when his 1-3 was beaten by Reisinger’s 2-1. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

You can see more Italian-built TM motorcycles at the weekly REM races than in any motocross race this side of Parma. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Proof! Ralf Schmidt (73) on a blue and white TM dives under pink TM mounted David Cincotta on his way to the Over-40 Expert victory. Cincotta was third. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Jack Aaron flies his KTM 65SX over the tabletop next to the starting line. Aaron’s 2-1 gave him the 65cc win over the 1-2 of Gavin Moon and 3-3 of Mason Hibner.  Debbi Tamietti

Jim O’Neal made sure that Joe “Mismatch” Sutter wore pants, jersey and gloves that matched this week, Sutter was 6th in the Over-50 Experts and 3rd in the Over-40 Intermediates. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Mike Mongahan (33) returned to action after taking three months off for a torn ACL. It didn’t go well, as he returned to the pits and hung up his boots on the lap after this photo was taken. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Justin Klein was one of only a handful of Suzukis at this week’s REM motocross. Klein was second in the 450 Novice class. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Randy Skinner (left) finally gave up and had his shoulder operated on this past week. Here, he uses his good arm to wave to photographer Debbie Tamietti. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

Josh Fout is a big boy for 125 two-stroke, but not so big that he couldn’t race the Ivan Tedesco Husqvarna TC125 to a 1-1 win in the 450 Novice class. Tedesco’s Pro Circuit engine pumps out over 42 horsepower Photo: Josh Fout

MOST POPULAR CLASSES AT REM THIS WEEKEND (BY PERCENTAGE)
1. Over-60 Expert…12%
2. Over-50 Intermediate…12%
3. Over-50 Expert…10%
4. Over-60 Intermediate…8%
5. Over-65 Intermediate…7%

The old guys still want to race, evidenced by the fact that the five largest classes this weekend were all in the Over-50 and Over-60 classes. In fact, 30% of the racers at REM this week were in the Over-50 classes (Novice, Intermediate, Expert and Elite) and 28% of all riders were over the age of 60. Combined, the oldest groups of riders accounted for 58% of all racers.

Will Harper (7) takes the high road on his way past Jim O’Neal (76) in the Over-60 race. Photo: Jon Ortner

MOST POPULAR MOTORCYCLE BRAND AT REM THIS WEEKEND (BY PERCENTAGE)
1. Yamaha…33%
1. KTM…33%
3. Honda…14%
4. Husqvarna…9%
5. Suzuki…4%
5. TM…4%
7. Kawasaki…2%

This weekend’s brand breakdown proved again that there is a battle for the top spot of the most popular motorcycle brand between KTM and Yamaha. Yamaha and KTM shared the top spot with Honda third. Although the expected boost in Kawasakis at the races hasn’t materialized yet. Husqvarna has shown considerable growth in the past year.

The weekly war in the Over-50 Elite class between Luther French (2) and Jon Ortner (10) continued, but this week Ed Foedish came from Arizona take the win. Photo: Debbi Tamietti

REMAINING 2018 REM MOTOCROSS RACES
Oct. 20…Glen Helen, CA
Oct. 27…Octobercross (World Vet Warm-up on World Vet National track)
Nov.3-4…Dubya World Vet Championship (National track)
Nov. 17…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 15…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 22…Glen Helen, CA
Dec. 29…Glen Helen, CA

REM races again at Glen Helen on October 20, 2018, and at the Octobercross on October 27, 2018. For more info on REM Motocross go to their facebook page or web page at www.remsatmx.com